Takata Airbag Recall Expands, Adds 2.7M More Vehicles

Takata Airbag Recall Expands, Adds 2.7M More Vehicles

DETROIT, Mich. – Takata says 2.7 million Ford, Nissan and Mazda vehicles to the long list of those recalled to replace potentially dangerous airbag inflators.

Inflatables are a new type that was once considered safe. The affected vehicles are models from 2005 to 2012.

Takata inflators can explode with too much force and the shrapnel pull on drivers and passengers. At least 17 people were killed and more than 180 injured as a result of the problem. The inflators have caused the largest car recall in US history, with 42 million vehicles and up to 69 million swellings that was called for repairs.

Takata uses chemical ammonium nitrate to inflate air pockets. But it can deteriorate when exposed to high atmospheric humidity and at elevated temperatures. Previously, the company believed that a drying agent called desiccant prevented the chemical from deteriorating and the inflators were safe.

But the National Security Administration traffic said in a statement Tuesday that tests by Takata show that, for the first time, a type of dry inflator “pose a safety risk if it is not replaced.” The agency says there are no reports of inflators breaking the drying out.

Nissan said the new recall affects just over 515,000 Versa hatchbacks and subcompact sedans for the years 2007 through 2012 models. Mazda said its recall covers around 6,000 Series B trucks from 2007 to 2009.

Ford, which has most of the vehicles involved in the last recall, reviews the information and will present a list of models within the five days required by law.

Takata said in filings with the security agency that he tested inflations dismissed from Nissan and Ford vehicles using calcium sulfate as a drying agent. Although no inflammation has been triggered, some showed a tendency to deteriorate ammonium nitrate propellant over time “which is assumed to predict the future risk of the breaker inflator.”

NHTSA said in a statement that all Takata inflators with a desiccant are not remembered. Takata uses different drying agents on other inflators, according to the agency.

The latest reinforcement raises doubts about the safety of other Takata inflators that use ammonium nitrates and drying agents.

The company agreed to recall all original equipment dryers inflators in late phases of 2018. NHTSA gave Takata until the end of 2019 to demonstrate that air conditioners with drying agents are safe or should also be recovered.

US Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Said Tuesday that the NHTSA had to act quickly to determine if all of the remaining Takata inflators are safe.

“The recall now raises serious questions about the threat posed by all Takata ammonium nitrate airbags,” Nelson said in a statement. “Of course, we can not afford to wait until the December 2019 deadline for this determination.”

Shown through close and legal fees, Takata has filed for bankruptcy last month in the United States and Japan, claiming that it was the only way to ensure that he can continue to replace defective floats.

Most of the company’s assets will be purchased by security systems from key competitors for about $ 1.6 billion (175 billion yen). The remains of operations will continue Takata to ensure that the inflators are used as spare parts for 19 car manufacturers in question.